Regents plan to self-assess board’s acts every 2 years

The new rule is part of accreditation.

The Board of Regents of the 14-campus University of Texas System, which is already engaged in a bit of self-reflection with a new chairwoman and the search for a new chancellor, has adopted a rule requiring the board to evaluate itself at least every two years.

The rule, adopted unanimously by the regents Thursday with no discussion, is intended to comply with new accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Among other things, the self-evaluation will include assessments of the board’s organization, leadership, oversight of the chancellor, oversight of the campuses, policymaking role, orientation of new regents and methods of addressing potential conflicts of interest involving regents.

“Our board has routinely done that over the years, most typically when the board leadership changes,” Francie Frederick, general counsel to the board, said in an interview. “With this new rule, it will be at least every two years.”

Frederick said the evaluations likely would take place during closed-door sessions. Asked why they wouldn’t be conducted in public, she replied: “They may decide to do it in open session. I think that’ll be a chairman’s decision. And the other option is they could do an outside, third-party evaluation.”

The formalizing of the board’s evaluation of itself comes as the UT System is in flux. Chancellor Bill McRaven, citing health issues and a desire to teach and pursue other interests, has announced that he will step down by the end of May. Sara Martinez Tucker, who became chairwoman of the UT board in September, hopes to have a new chancellor on board in June.

Meanwhile, a task force led by Regent Kevin Eltife is working on recommendations to reorganize the system administration to cut costs and free up more money for the campuses. And a task force led by Regent Jeffery Hildebrand is working on a plan to divest the system of 300 acres in Houston it acquired for about $210 million as part of a plan by McRaven to develop a campus of sorts. The chancellor dropped that plan amid opposition from some state lawmakers and some regents, as well as public silence from Gov. Greg Abbott that also amounted to opposition.

In other action, the regents authorized the UT Health Science Center at Tyler to form a health care system with Ardent Health Services. This will make it possible for the Health ScienceCenter“tomaintainfinancial sustainability and continue to focus on investment in ... missions that cannot be supported or cannot be adequately supported by state funds alone,” according to the regents’ agenda book.